11 Jan
Blog

Instant Pot Pro Plus Review: Pressure Cooking Gets Smart

Instant Pot Pro Plus with a baking dish in the foreground.

Instant Pot Pro Plus in the test: pressure cooking is getting smart

RRP $ 170.00

"Discovering new recipes and translating their instructions right from your phone into the Instant Pot is a fun gimmick, but not without compromise."

benefits

  • Incredible versatility

  • Major usability improvements

  • Remote control functions are fun and useful

disadvantage

  • Community recipes can be hit and missed

Despite all of its multitude of functions – making yogurt, sous vide, canning – Instant Pot struggled to connect to phones. While Instant Pot has seen some impressive peaks in popularity, how did Instant Pot really reach this huge group of people who want Wi-Fi in every single thing in their home? A 2015 recall of the original Instant Pot Smart put a damper on a device we otherwise loved. Fortunately, the phone-friendly feature is back and we're diving deep to see what else is new.

configuration

Instant Pot Pro Plus lid kept in the kitchen. Simon Sage / Digital Trends

The first thing you need to do is create an Instant Pot account in order to pair the device with your mobile device. Originally, I wanted to create my account through my PC so I could get Chrome to generate a robust password, but this process didn't carry over well to the mobile app. I ended up creating another account through the mobile app with a weaker password, which isn't ideal. Some kind of Facebook connection would make creating an account a lot easier. The pairing process was a matter of course for most smart home devices: Connect via Bluetooth, share the WiFi password, then you start to connect. The requirement for a 2.4 GHz WiFi network is also common for smart home devices.

Once the Instant Pot is fully inserted, you can activate it for (deep inhalation) pressure cooking, slow cooking, rice cooking, steaming, roasting, making yogurt, hot meals, canned food, sous vide and NutriBoost which mimics the effects of cooking without really all burn these nutrients.

App

The biggest selling point of the new Instant Pot Pro Plus is its smartphone connectivity. This allows you to search an extensive database of recipes, check the status of your cooking and control the process remotely.

The recipes really dominate the conversation when it comes to the app. The greatest convenience is to wirelessly transfer the cooking settings from your phone to the Instant Pot and start cooking right away. Discovering recipes was a breeze. You can filter by vegetarian or vegan diet, time of day, difficulty and preparation times. The search for vegetarian dinners only brought about 40 results out of the original 1,500, many of which were a mix of tofu, quinoa, butternut squash, or lentils. It was clear that I wouldn't have many kilometers in the long run.

Instant Pot App runs on a smartphone with an Instant Pot and ingredients in the background. Simon Sage / Digital Trends

I chose an eggplant parmesan because my partner can tolerate the vegetarian diet if there is enough cheese involved. With a shopping list feature, you can export the ingredients to any app you normally use for things like that. I would also have loved to tick them off in the Instant Pot app itself. The recipe was pulled from the internet and had each step broken down correctly, along with shortcuts for starting the Instant Pot and setting timers. While the app is running, a notification will appear in the system tray so you can keep an eye on the cooking progress at a glance.

This was the first time I've cooked pasta in an instant pot, and I followed the author's instructions in good faith. Unfortunately, I should have taken some time to read the community comments and reviews, which precisely reported that the recipe produced undercooked penne. There is also a five-star rating system in place, but at 3.6 stars no alarm bells went off initially. I was able to save the meal with a little extra water in the baking dish and a longer cooking time in the oven. The only collateral damage was a few burnt noodles on top and a scramble over the smoke alarm. The rest of the penne was tougher than I would have liked, but better than crispy.

There is a lot of trust in the community to provide high quality recipes.

As for the recipes, they rely heavily on the community to both provide quality advice and check if they don't work. Popular recipes will have enough community momentum for this to work, but niche recipes will get beginners like me rolling the dice pretty often. Regardless of where you search for recipes on the internet or how you send those instructions to your devices, you are likely to encounter the same uncertainties. Even if the recipe search ultimately fails and the convenience of one-touch instructions is lost, you at least have remote monitoring of everything you manually enter. In the best case scenario, you will find a handful of recipes that you love in Instant Pot's database and you will be able to use the one-touch function reliably.

What else is new?

My last Instant Pot was the Ultra 6 Quart, so the Pro Plus was a big step up in many ways. The inclusion of handles on the inner pot is a huge improvement in ease of use. Fins on the lid and some brackets along the base provide a home for a large, chunky platter that would otherwise roll around on the kitchen counter while you try to add ingredients. The front has a touch screen, which can be much easier to navigate than just a clicky wheel. An extra cover on the pressure relief helps evacuate steam, not that I've ever had many issues with spill damage. There's also a new pulse-release mode that aims to reduce splatter when depressurizing super dishes.

Instant Pot Pro Plus with a baking dish in the foreground.

Our opinion

Being able to cook so many things without lighting the stove and ultimately saving energy is a huge draw. Discovering new recipes and transferring their instructions straight from your phone to the Instant Pot is a fun gimmick, but not without its compromises.

Is there a better alternative?

On paper, the Instant Pot Pro Plus is at the top of their product range. At just $ 170, your savings will be minimal even if you can find a cheaper model from competing brands. The Instant Pot Pro Plus is currently only available with a capacity of 6 liters. So if you cook for a large household, the other 8 liter models may be more suitable. The baking option is also not available on the Pro Plus, while it is available on the Pro. All of this means you'll struggle to find a better alternative than the Instant Pot Pro Plus, aside from a few specific hangers.

How long it will take?

I used the Instant Pot Ultra for about three and a half years with no sign of it slowing down or wearing out. Ready-to-use, Instant Pots come with a one-year warranty to cover all mishaps at the beginning of their lifespan. The sealing ring on the inside is probably the first thing you'll need, but you can easily buy replacements for it. We suspect that with a little care, an Instant Pot could last five years or more.

Should you buy it?

The Instant Pot Pro Plus is easy to recommend. It continues to repeat what made the brand so successful. The benefit from the range of functions is still impressive.

Editor's recommendations



13 Dec
Blog

Lockly Flex Touch Review: The Perfect First Smart Lock

The Lockly Flex Touch Smart Lock.

Lockly Flex-Touch

RRP $ 149.99

"The Lockly Flex Touch gives you many ways to lock and unlock your doors and make other adjustments, but some can be prevented by the additional cost of adding Wi-Fi controls."

benefits

  • Quick and easy installation

  • Responsive fingerprint scanner

  • Multiple ways to lock / unlock

  • Simple but efficient app

disadvantage

  • Bulky interior design

  • No battery

  • Requires Wi-Fi adapter for mobile functionality

Smart locks are a family of tried and tested smart home devices. For the most part, these latched internet connected peripherals have one job – to keep the door locked. The many bells and whistles, from fingerprint scanning to intuitive companion apps that offer a variety of controls for on the go, are secondary to the certainty that the lock will protect your home every night.

You can find a dizzying amount of smart lock brands on the shelves of brick and mortar and digital stores. Ideally, you want to balance a solid brand name with a great set of security and control features. Oh, and a decent price never hurt either.

Lockly, a formidable name in the smart lock market, has made a number of internet connected locks that we have installed and tested. The latest in the company's product range, the Lockly Flex Touch (available exclusively from Home Depot), does a great job offering a number of must-have smart lock features for less than $ 200. However, there are a few other features that the company hasn't built into the basic package lock (more on this below).

Read on to learn more about our experience with the Lockly Flex Touch.

Out of the box

The scope of delivery of the Lockly Flex Touch.

When you unpack the Lockly Flex Touch, you will find everything you need to install it. This includes the outer and inner lock peripherals (the latter with connected wiring harness), the bolt assembly, an assembly wiring harness and strike plate, screws for all components and an instruction manual. The lock should also come with an activation code card with the serial number and activation code of your Flex Touch.

The code is needed during setup and if you ever need to pair or replace your lock you will need the unique PIN again. After setting up the card, please keep it in a safe place.

The biometric fingerprint scanner is one of the best we've ever worked with.

Our first impression of the overall look and feel of the castle was pretty good. The outward-facing key cylinder made of satined nickel is durable but elegant. Aside from the fingerprint reader, the lock exterior actually looks like most of the traditional single cylinder locks you will find.

What impressed us less is the interior. It's big, at least when compared to most of the interior smart lock hardware. At seven inches high and nearly ten inches wide, the chassis is framed to hold the four AA batteries needed to power the Flex Touch. Let's just say it doesn't exactly fit most doors.

Easy installation, quick setup

The finished interior for the Lockly Flex Touch.

Attaching and turning on the Flex Touch was a pretty straightforward process.

To get started, you must first remove your existing lock and deadbolt. Similar to other smart locks, Lockly's included deadbolt assembly is designed for both 60mm and 70mm configurations, depending on the type of door you are working with. My door required an adjustment of the latch that was as simple as turning the latch body clockwise. You will feel and hear an audible click when the new fitting is locked.

Install the latch for the Lockly Flex Touch.

After the bolt has been screwed in, the outer lock only needs to be attached and the connection cable passed through, the inner mounting plate attached, the cable inserted and then the inner assembly screwed in place. Oh, and don't forget to pop in the four AA batteries. The Flex Touch is supposed to be included, but mine is not. So it is a good idea to make sure you have some extra batteries on hand before installing.

Before you put the battery cover on, you must hold down the programming button before inserting the last of your four AA batteries. A series of beeps will indicate that the lock is being calibrated on your door. Once the calibration is complete, you can download the Lockly Companion App (for iOS and Android devices).

Make sure your phone or tablet's bluetooth is turned on as this is how your Flex Touch will be controlled from your mobile device (more on this below). After you have been asked to enter your lock's unique activation code, general setup is complete. All said and done, you're probably looking for about half an hour (top) to install.

main features

The outer assembly of the Lockly Flex Touch.

With most smart locks around $ 200, the price of the Flex Touch is a bit lower than average, but don't expect a cheaper price to translate into less technology. While Lockly locked a number of the Flex Touch's mobile controls behind the Lockly Secure Link Wi-Fi Hub's paywall, the Flex Touch's basic functionality is pretty great.

The Lockly app has a simple layout and a number of easily accessible settings.

For starters, the biometric fingerprint scanner is one of the best we've ever worked with. Unlike more sensitive fingerprint smartlocks, which can get fussy in the rain or cold outdoors, the Flex Touch's print reader did a solid scan of my app-assigned finger every time and locked and unlocked it with almost no raids.

In fact, the only time I've had problems was after returning home from a long, cold walk. The print scanner made a mistake on the first read, but a simple re-scan was all it took. It is also good to know that the lock can store up to 99 individual fingerprints in case your dominant hand is otherwise busy or you want someone else to unlock the door.

Other important features include a reliable auto-lock function, physical backup keys and external 9V battery contacts when the AA batteries are empty, as well as quick and easy profile duplication to store your fingerprints and eKey-Passes on other Lockly Smarts Import locks.

Mobile control and the Lockly app

Three screens of the Lockly Companion app (on an iOS device).

One of the most convenient aspects of any smart lock is the ability to lock and unlock your doors on the go. Remote access is especially useful when you are on your way to the house in a car laden with groceries. Instead of fumbling for keys or deciding which finger to scan while balancing bags on either shoulder, you can simply open your lock app (after parking in the driveway, of course) and tap a button to open the door to unlock.

Yes, mobile controls are available for the Lockly Flex Touch. No, these functions are not included in the scope of delivery. If you want remote lock / unlock, multi-door lock, Alexa and Google Assistant commands, or real-time door monitoring, you need to purchase the aforementioned Lockly Secure Link Wi-Fi Hub for $ 80.

This means that a fully featured Flex Touch will cost you around $ 230. Not bad, but there are plenty of smart locks out there that include Wi-Fi controls, and sometimes for less than $ 200. Without the network module, the Flex Touch and Lockly companion apps run without bluetooth, which means you will still be able to lock / unlock the app as long as you are near the lock itself.

The Lockly app has a simple layout and a number of easily accessible settings. The start page lists the rooms in your house or houses and the Lockly devices assigned to them. If you select the Flex Touch, you will be taken to the lock status and control screen. A large blue lock / unlock button takes up most of the space, with controls, log, access, and additional settings at the bottom of the page. There's also a battery life indicator in the top right corner.

Fingerprint mapping is done through the Lockly app, and the process is a breeze. Once you tap Start, press your finger repeatedly on the scanner and lift it up when you hear a beep. As soon as the scanning process is complete, the pressure is logged in the Lockly app. You can assign multiple fingers to multiple users, and the lock administrator can enter imprints on as many Lockly devices as you want.

Adding a fingerprint in the Lockly Flex Touch app.

You can also use the app to monitor when and how (fingerprint, app, key) the Flex Touch was unlocked, adjust haptics and tones for the lock and app and add / remove users from your Lockly account.

Prices and guarantee

For now, you can only find Lockly Flex Touch in Home Depot stores and online at homedepot.com. The current retail price is $ 150, and the lock comes with a five-year limited mechanical warranty and a two-year electronics warranty.

Don't forget: if you want to use Alexa or Google Assistant to control the lock, or use other exclusive WiFi features, you need to include the Lockly Secure Link Wi-Fi Hub worth $ 80 in your total purchase price.

Our opinion

In our opinion, the Lockly Flex Touch is a great smart lock to get you started. It is a perfect gift for someone who is just getting started in the world of smart home technology. It's easy to install, the app is solid, and there are plenty of bluetooth-only features for you to enjoy. However, after a while, you will find that you want more.

When you get to that point, you can either invest in the Secure Link for additional functionality or maybe move the Flex Touch to a different door and invest in a new Smart Lock altogether.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes, especially if you want a smart lock that's instantly Wi-Fi enabled. One of our most popular smart locks, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock, typically costs around $ 230, doesn't require a WiFi bridge, and is packed with incredible features and tons of app customizations.

If the budget matters, there is also the Wyze Lock. It's priced at around $ 130, it's quick to install, the app is great, and like the August Castle, it doesn't require a Wi-Fi bridge.

How long it will take?

Due to the generous mechanical guarantee period (five years), we assume that the Lockly Flex Touch will last a long time. Keep in mind that there is no rechargeable lithium-ion battery here, so you need to keep an eye on the battery life of the four AA batteries.

Lockly claims that the first round of batteries will give you about a year of useful life, but to be on the safe side, try replacing them every six to eight months.

Should you buy it?

Depends on. If you're looking for a cheap smart lock and just want to use bluetooth controls to begin with, the Lockly Flex Touch is a solid choice, especially when you consider the responsive fingerprint reader. However, with Wi-Fi built in, you can easily grab a network-enabled Smart Lock for just a few dollars more than the Flex Touch's $ 150 price point.

Editor's recommendations



20 Nov
Blog

Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Pro+ Review: Quietly Loud and Smart

Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Pro + on hardwood floor.

Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Pro +

RRP $ 700.00

"With the Deebot N8 Pro + you spend less time babysitting and can concentrate more on other things than vacuuming."

advantages

  • Very low noise when vacuuming

  • Mop floors very well

  • Avoid most obstacles

disadvantage

  • Mopping plate is difficult to remove

If you haven't dealt with the robot vacuum cleaner for a long time, you may notice a special trend over the last year: self-emptying bots that do the job without any interaction from us humans. Sure, you still have to empty the bag at some point when it's full, but this iterative feature makes it more autonomous.

Most of the big brands offer some sort of self-draining robot hoover, including Ecovacs with its latest model, the Deebot Ozmo N8 Pro +. You may be wondering what's so special about this one that we've never seen before, but the convenience of a self-draining vacuum cleaner is only part of the bigger equation. Can he also clean intelligently without being hindered by obstacles? Here is what I found out.

draft

One look at the Deebot Ozmo N8 Pro + and there's no denying that it's built like every other robotic vacuum cleaner I've seen. Even if the aesthetics are so extraordinary, the only distinguishable aspect here is the bluish paintwork. It's worth noting, however, that it has two side sweeping brushes that help funnel debris into the underside brush and work at a slower speed to keep small bits of debris from being flung in all directions.

Top view of the Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Pro +.John Velasco / Digital Trends

The Ozmo N8 Pro + also has a wipe function that makes it a double-duty model. The microfiber pad in particular is not like the skimpy pad other robotic vacuums use – it actually has substance to make contact with the floor! Unfortunately, removing the mopping plate from the water tank isn't as intuitive as I'd like it to be because you really need to use some force on it.

navigation

Lidar technology enables the Deebot N8 Pro + to clean efficiently, reducing time and maximizing its cleaning schedule. From the start of the first cleaning, he managed to map the different rooms in my apartment because he is actively vacuuming. On the second go-around, I could tell that it knew exactly what to do from the start, as it would move in a zigzag pattern in free space.

Close-up of the sensors of the Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Pro +.John Velasco / Digital Trends

Corners are also handled very well, but it's worth noting that it's also fairly gentle when cleaning around furniture and other obstacles it encounters while vacuuming. Similar to other vacuums with lidar technology, there is the option to set up no-go zones or virtual walls to prevent the bot from entering certain rooms, which is handy when you have places that you don't want to disturb.

Obstacle avoidance

The Deebot N8 Pro + uses laser-based 3D technology, which Ecovacs calls TrueDetect, which gives it the vision of seeing what is in front of it and figuring out the best way to get around it. For the most part, it does the job, but it's still not without its flaws.

Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Pro + on hardwood floor.John Velasco / Digital Trends

For example, it intelligently sucked around a lonely sock that was lying on the floor – and it was good also to avoid water bowls that I left on the floor for my cats. However, it can still be tripped over by those pesky cable wires on the floor, especially the thinner ones I use for my smartphones. It seems to distinguish thicker cable wires better, like those found on power strips or other large devices, but the thinner ones are a hit-or-miss.

But I have to admit that the Deebot N8 Pro + is not as stuck as other vacuum robots. Sure, it can get under some furniture, like an entertainment center, but it does a good job of telling whether or not it has the required passage.

Cleaning performance

Thanks to its two side brushes, the Deebot N8 Pro + treats hard floors like a champion. Pet hair and other smaller particles of dirt will be eaten up with no problem, but the same deep cleaning that I get from traditional upright vacuums when it comes to carpets and rugs still cannot be achieved. Its suction power increases when it touches carpets, but only ensures superficial cleaning.

Since it is a 2-in-1 combination, adding a wiping function offers enormous added value here. Although it relies only on water to mop floors, my feet can tell how much cleaner my hardwood floors feel than if I just vacuumed them. I also like how you can use the app to set how much water the Deebot N8 Pro + emits during cleaning. More stubborn buildups, however, required several passes to be completely removed. But you are still unbeatable to have a bot that can mop and vacuum at the same time.

An often overlooked aspect of robotic vacuums is how loud they sound when vacuuming. I was surprised at how quietly the Deebot N8 Pro + runs, low enough that it never distracted me while I was working. Compared to other vacuum robots, such as the iRobot Roomba i7 +, it is significantly quieter in operation. Only when it empties its contents into the self-emptying charging station is it loud and distracting. It sounds like a jet engine, but that's what most of them sound like.

Our opinion

Ecovacs is undoubtedly up to something good with the $ 700 Deebot N8 Pro +. It's a reliable bot that cleans well, doubles as a mop and even empties itself. All of these factors definitely add incredible value – especially when it is able to tackle most obstacles without major intervention.

Is there a better alternative?

The Samsung Jet Bot AI + would be the only other superior vacuum robot to consider. It offers exceptional obstacle avoidance, has a self-draining bin and even has a neat security camera patrol mode that can monitor movement. For this, however, you pay significantly more.

The only other model that corresponds to the Deebot N8 Pro + in terms of price and performance is the iRobot Roomba j7 +, which is faster in cleaning performance and handles obstacles just as well.

How long it will take?

Proper maintenance will extend the life of the Deebot N8 Pro +, so it is important to keep the brushes free from tangles and to remove any dust that collects over the sensors. There is a one-year limited warranty that comes with the product and covers defects.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. Why pay for two different robots when you can get a single one that can vacuum, mop, self-drain, and confidently navigate your home without tripping too many times.

Editor's recommendations



03 Nov
Blog

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Review: Atmos Adds to the Immersion

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 close-up.

Bose Smart Soundbar 900

RRP $ 899.00

"The Smart Soundbar 900 adds Dolby Atmos for just $ 100, making it a great choice for a single speaker home theater sound system."

advantages

  • Elegant design

  • Good Dolby Atmos effects

  • Excellent music quality

  • Practical TV voice control

  • Synchronization of private headphones

disadvantage

  • Only one HDMI port

  • Simple remote control without backlight

  • Limited support for Android

When Bose launched its $ 799 Smart Soundbar 700 in the last half of 2018, it probably should have included Dolby Atmos, the highly immersive surround sound format used for both movies and music. That wasn't the case, and that gave longtime competitor Sonos the chance to jump in with its very own Dolby Atmos soundbar, the Sonos Arc, which debuted in 2020 at the same price as the non-Atmos Smart Soundbar 700.

But Bose has finally jumped on the Atmos bandwagon with its $ 899 Smart Soundbar 900. Is it worth the extra $ 100? Let's find out.

Holes in the glass

Bose smart soundbar 900.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

If you think the Smart Soundbar 900 sounds familiar, don't dream. It's a dead ringtone for the Smart Soundbar 700, right down to the classy (but slightly smudged) glass plate. The biggest difference is the matching set of racetrack-like oval holes on either end of the glass. These openings are for the additional upward-facing drivers that help the soundbar deliver the height effects that have become synonymous with Dolby Atmos.

The drivers are angled upwards so they can bounce certain sounds off your ceiling and back to your listening position. While the 900 is impressively short (2.29 inches tall) and could easily fit under most large screen TVs, don't put it there. It has to be open to get the most out of these aspiring riders.

In its black guise, the 900 pretty much disappears into the background, but if you want your soundbar to make both a visual and an audible statement, it is also available in white.

One port too little

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 ports on the back.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

You can connect the Smart Soundbar 900 to your TV with an HDMI cable or an optical cable, and Bose includes both. If you use the optical cable, you will not be able to send a Dolby Atmos signal to the soundbar even if your TV supports it. Atmos is simply too bandwidth-hungry for an optical connection – it requires the thicker HDMI cable. That's not to say that the 900 doesn't produce very visually immersive sound when used – it'll still sound great thanks to the company's TrueSpace technology – you just can't get the full Atmos experience without HDMI.

The Smart Soundbar 900 delivers beautifully clear, room-filling sound.

Speaking of HDMI: The 900 only has one HDMI port, through which it receives audio from your television and sends control instructions back to the television. For most people, this will be a bit of a nuisance as it will force you to give up one of your TV's HDMI ports and not provide you with a replacement. Depending on the number of HDMI devices you have and the number of inputs on your TV, it may even be necessary to purchase an HDMI switch.

But for the audio purists out there with older TVs, this poses another challenge. If your TV doesn't support HDMI eARC (most TVs over two years old), there is simply no way to get the highest quality audio signal that the 900 can handle, namely lossless 24-bit Dolby Atmos in Dolby TrueHD.

With other Dolby Atmos soundbars, such as the Sony HT-A7000, you can connect a Blu-ray player or streaming media device to one of the HDMI inputs on the soundbar, bypassing your TV's HDMI ARC restrictions by adding You send the sound directly to the soundbar while the video is relayed to your TV.

The Smart Soundbar 900 isn't the only Atmos soundbar with this limitation. The Sonos Arc also only has a single HDMI port.

Don't lose the remote control

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 remote control.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

While it is true that you can control all functions of the Smart Soundbar 900 via the Bose Music app (more on this in a moment), the supplied remote control should be close at hand if there are no controls integrated into the soundbar itself. The only controls that Bose installs on this smooth glass surface are for intelligent loudspeaker functions (microphone mute, action button). You need the remote control or the app for volume, mute, play / pause and other functions.

Oddly enough, Bose decided to equip the Soundbar 900 with one of its simple, non-backlit infrared remote controls, while the Soundbar 700 comes with a much fancier, backlit Bluetooth universal remote. When I asked Bose why this was the case, I was told that the Voice4Video feature (which I'll discuss below) is viewed as a replacement for most of the functions on the universal remote.

You need an app for that

In theory, you can only operate the Smart Soundbar 900 with the included remote control, but you're missing out on a lot. The Bose Music app (for iOS and Android) guides you through the setup process, including connecting the soundbar to your home's WiFi, calibrating the sound with the included AdaptIQ microphone, and setting up the Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa if you want to activate the intelligent loudspeaker functions of the 900. The connection of the soundbar to Wi-Fi is a prerequisite if you want to use one of the natively supported music streaming services, Spotify Connect or Apple AirPlay 2.

In the app you will also find all the deeper settings such as adjustments for bass, treble and treble channels as well as the dialogue improvement mode. None of this can be controlled with the remote control. The app is also the only way to confirm that the soundbar is receiving and playing Dolby Atmos.

Brilliant sound

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 close-up.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Whether you're playing 5.1, Dolby Atmos or a standard 2-channel stereo mix, the Smart Soundbar 900 delivers wonderfully clear, room-filling sound. In typical Bose fashion, the sound signature tends to accentuate the mids and high frequencies out of the box. For music, there is a crisp, energetic sound to vocals, but it is also ideal for TV dialogues.

Bass is also abundant. But as mentioned above, to maximize the speaker's low-end capabilities, you'll need to dive into the Bose Music app as it's pretty tame the first time you set it up. I also recommend increasing the elevation channel settings. Even with my basement's relatively low ceiling height of 7.5 feet, I found that I needed the extra punch to get the most out of these upward-shooting height drivers.

It's not difficult to convince yourself that there are additional surround speakers in the room.

It does take some tweaking, but once you're done with the settings, the Smart Soundbar 900 creates a compelling Dolby Atmos sound dome. All of my Atmos test films like Mad Max: Fury Road, Ford V. Ferrari and Avengers: Infinity War sounded exciting. You can definitely hear the added dimension of the height channels, but like the non-Atmos Smart Soundbar 700, what catches you most is the incredible breadth of the 900's soundstage. Sit in the middle and it's not difficult to convince yourself that there are additional surround speakers in the room.

This is where the comparison of the 900 with the Sonos Arc becomes interesting. From a purely Dolby Atmos perspective, the Arc does a better job with height effects, and its significantly larger housing produces deeper, more resonant bass. But the Smart Soundbar 900 is better at creating a full surround sound experience, and it also offers better clarity, especially with dialogue.

Musically, both soundbars are convincing, but here, too, each has its strengths. The Arc produces a warmer bass response, but cannot quite keep up with the clarity of the Soundbar 900 in the upper ranges. Given the 900's wider soundstage, I think Bose has the edge, but that will likely depend on personal preference.

Streaming sounds

It's worth noting that Android users have less high-quality music streaming options since the soundbar 900 supports AirPlay 2 but not Chromecast. All streaming services natively supported in the Bose Music app (Spotify, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn, Deezer, iHeart Radio and SiriusXM) are streamed via Wi-Fi. If these services support high-resolution or lossless audio (and you have access to that level of content), you should be getting the best possible audio quality. However, if you're using Apple Music, Tidal, YouTube Music, or one of the many services not included in the Bose Music app, you're limited to Bluetooth and using either the SBC or AAC codec.

Apple device owners have more freedom of choice. With AirPlay 2, practically any music app can stream via Wi-Fi in lossless quality of up to 16-bit / 48kHz from an iPhone to the Soundbar 900, and all grouped speakers can play along from there.

This pales in comparison to the huge range of services that Sonos supports. The Bose Music app also doesn't offer the ability to browse all of your services from a single interface or create an unlimited number of favorite playlists and stations – you're limited to just six.

"Alexa, channel 33"

Bose smart soundbar 900.Your TV or streaming device may have built-in Chromecast, but the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 does not. Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

If you choose Amazon Alexa as your voice assistant, Bose offers a clever way to control your TV and cable set-top box with voice commands. It's called Voice4Video and it's configured in the Bose Music app. Once the soundbar has correctly identified your TV, cable box and local cable provider, you can turn your TV on and off and use your voice to jump to specific channels.

It's hardly anything you need, but if you want it you'll be happy to know that it works really well. I have seen only a few occasions where I had to repeat a TV-based voice command.

Multiroom audio

Bose Smart Soundbar 900 seen with Sonos Arc.Bose Smart Soundbar 900 (left) and Sonos Arc. Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

One of the advantages of having a speaker connected to Wi-Fi is the ability to broadcast multi-room audio. Here you can play a different music source on each speaker, have all your speakers play the same music in perfect sync, or split your home into speaker groups, each doing their own thing.

The Smart Soundbar 900 lets you team up with other Bose wireless speakers, bluetooth speakers, and headphones to create a whole house audio solution – a very versatile range of options. These grouped speakers can play any source that the primary speaker can access, be it Bluetooth, Bose Music's built-in streaming services, AirPlay 2, or your TV's sound. However, the management of these speaker groups is not quite as flexible.

If your group only contains Bose Wi-Fi speakers, such as the Bose Home Speaker 500 or Bose Smart Soundbar 300, you can edit the group and easily add and remove speakers as you wish. However, groups containing SimpleSync Bluetooth products like the QuietComfort 45 cannot be edited – you have to end them and create a new group with the devices you want.

Bose may not offer the same level of music controls as Sonos, but the multiroom controls are excellent.

Pssst … the children are sleeping

Bose Music app.

Bose Music app.

If you have Bose Bluetooth headphones, such as the newly released QuietComfort 45 or the Noise Canceling Headphones 700, you can pair them with the Soundbar 900 using Bose's SimpleSync technology. Most soundbars offer Bluetooth to stream music from your phone to the speaker, but very few let you do it the other way around – from the soundbar to a headphone – and it's a handy feature.

Our opinion

The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 was already a great speaker for movies and music. The only thing missing was Dolby Atmos. Now that the Smart Soundbar 900 is here, adding that missing component for just $ 100 more, it's an excellent choice for a single speaker home theater sound system.

Is there a better alternative?

For this price there is really only one alternative to the Bose Smart Soundbar 900: The Sonos Arch. They are the same price and go head to head on many functions. Both give you a choice of Google or Amazon voice assistants, both connect to music streaming services, both can be used as part of a whole house wireless audio setup, and both use just a single HDMI eARC port for the TV connectivity.

With great software from Sonos, the Arc is a better choice for all-home audio and control of your music. It also creates deeper bass and slightly more noticeable Dolby Atmos height effects. But you can't plug in headphones for private listening, the high-frequency clarity isn't as good as with the Bose, it doesn't come with its own remote control, and you can't control your TV with Alexa. It is also significantly larger and bulkier than the Soundbar 900.

One more consideration: Bose gives you cheaper options for adding a subwoofer and wireless surround speakers. You can add these to the Soundbar 900 for just $ 798. It takes at least $ 1,147 to do the same with the Sonos Arc – although you can get a much higher quality speaker set from Sonos.

How long it will take?

Bose may not offer software updates for the Smart Soundbar 900 forever, but I see no reason why it shouldn't give you great performance as long as you choose to own it. Bose products come with a one-year warranty.

Should you buy it?

Yes, unless you already own other Sonos products. In this case the Arc is the more logical choice.

Editor's recommendations



25 Sep
Blog

Lenovo Smart Clock 2 Review: Your Smart Bedside Companion

The Lenovo Smart Clock 2 is a great upgrade.

Lenovo Smart Clock 2 in the test: Your smart companion at the bed

RRP $ 70.00

"The Lenovo Smart Clock 2 is a great advancement of the Smart Clock product line that offers a lot of functionality and added value."

advantages

  • Full color LCD screen

  • Smart design

  • Base plate with USB-A and Qi charging function

  • MagSafe Compatible

  • Great value

disadvantage

  • No video streaming

  • Tricky touchscreen

  • Limited configuration via app

Lenovo produced the first Google Assistant smart display in 2018 and has been in this category ever since. While Google traditionally focused on the kitchen with its smart screens, Lenovo turned to the bedroom, first with the Smart Clock, then the Smart Clock Essential, and now that Smart watch 2.

It's true that Google’s newest Nest Hub (2 on your bedside table without the creepy "Sleep Watching" sign. Who's the king of the bedroom?

Simple, intelligent design

Lenovo hasn't evolved much of its design through the various iterations of its smart clocks. It still uses the same woven fabric cover on the outside, with an LCD screen on the front. This is a 4 inch LCD that is a bit small but is more than enough for a watch face. There are a variety of watch faces to choose from, including your Google Photos if you want. The touchscreen is a bit fussy and sometimes cannot register touches or perform the swiping movements that the operating system depends on.

For the same money, you could buy an alarm clock, a Nest Mini 2, and a Qi charging plate, and you still wouldn't get all of the features that the Smart Clock 2 brings to your bedside table.

The latest addition to this generation of Smart Clock is on the bottom. Together with the Smart Clock you receive a base plate with USB-A connection for charging another device and a MagSafe-compatible Qi charging plate for wireless charging of your smartphone. The charging plate charges with 5 watts, 7.5 W or 10 W and contains a magnetic circuit that you can touch on your MagSafe-compatible phones. MagSafe is a nice addition as it reduces the risk of accidentally taking your phone off the charger while you sleep.

The Lenovo Smart Clock 2 can charge your smartphone wirelessly.

Speaking of knocking things off the plate, the clock is intelligently designed so that the power cord plugs into the clock itself and copper contacts on the underside connect and power the plate. This way the clock works without a base depending on how much space your bedside table has. Speaking of magnets, the clock also attaches to the base with magnets, which makes it pretty secure.

In addition, there are volume buttons on top of the clock and in between there is a touch sensitive area that you can use to stop or snooze your alarm clock depending on the configuration. Of course, you can also tell Google to take a nap or just stop your alarm clock. A mute switch on the back deactivates the microphone for the Google Assistant.

As for the sound quality, it's pretty good. A pair of 3W speakers will power the alarm clock and the music you play with it. There is very little bass at the lower end, but the rest of the sound range is adequately represented. It's roughly what you get from a Nest Mini 2.

Swipe and gestures

While you use the Google Home app to configure WiFi, its location in your home, and various video and audio services, most of the device setup is done on the device. Android Things powers the watch and is full of gestures and taps to configure everything you need. Most commands can be performed using “Hey Google” commands, such as: B. Setting alarms, adjusting the volume and switching on the night light.

Other options come from swiping from the bottom of the UI, while others come from swiping down from the top. The frustrating part is that these gestures aren't particularly intuitive, and most people don't use Android Things enough for these gestures to become second nature.

While I would never advocate a separate app for just one watch, I would like to see more features built into the Google Home app.

Your watch face also has a kind of ticker that you can swipe through to play music, view your reminders and calendar entries, set an alarm, and much more. Once you get used to it, it works pretty well, but the majority of my interactions with the watch came from the Google Assistant, which is both good and bad. On the one hand, it's great to go to bed and tell Google to set an alarm. On the other hand, it can get frustrating when you ask for an alarm clock at 7:15 am and it replies, "7:50 am, you got it!"

This is nothing new to the Google Assistant, but it doesn't make it any less frustrating. Most of the time it works with no issues, but when there is one, it's annoying. I would also like to have more control over the watch, which is available through an app. While touching is a great way to manipulate settings, reaching over and touching the watch isn't a great experience. While I would never advocate a separate app for just one watch, I would like to see more features built into the Google Home app. It would be nice if you could set an alarm or adjust the dial there, for example.

No Netflix allowed

Finally, I have to admit that I was torn by this detail whether it is positive or negative, but this watch has a full color screen that cannot play video. What about it? You can stream audio to the watch, which is nice, but since there is a full color LCD screen, why can't I throw a movie to sleep? Perhaps this is just too little of a potential use for the watch, but it appears to be an oversight.

On the other hand, maybe I shouldn't want Lenovo to allow me to watch a movie on a 4-inch screen. I understand, and maybe Lenovo will save me from myself by lack of compatibility. I can't disagree with the point. But I think overall I'd rather have a choice.

Our opinion

The Lenovo Smart Clock 2 has a full color screen.

This is a nice update to the Lenovo Smart Clock line of devices. The pallet accessories in particular are our favorite. The Google Assistant is a great way to wake up and start routines. I would like a bigger screen, video capabilities, and a more intuitive user interface, but those omissions don't detract from the overall experience much.

You get loads of utility and functionality for $ 70. Not only is this a good product, but it is also a good value.

Is there a better alternative?

There isn't much competition in this area yet, but the next competitor actively battling for a spot on your bedside table is the Nest Hub (2nd generation). This device costs a little more, but adds portable sleep tracking to the package, which is sure to be compelling. It also offers video streaming capabilities and a bigger screen. If you want these additions, the Nest Hub (2nd Generation) is probably better off. However, if you don't mind not playing videos, or you want a smaller screen or a qi charging plate, this is a great pickup.

If you're completely completely unaware of the Google ecosystem, or are more connected to Amazon's, the Echo Show 8 or Echo Show 10 are both great choices. It all depends on your preferences.

How long it will take?

The Lenovo Smart Clock 2 is well made and solid with a fabric cover. I don't expect any problems with this device in the long run. It has a one-year limited warranty available on Lenovo's support website.

Should I buy it?

Yes, this is a great pickup for the price. In fact, there is no clear winner between the Nest Hub (2nd generation) and this one. If you want a little more, you pay a little more. For the same money, you could buy an alarm clock, Nest Mini 2, and Qi charging plate and you still wouldn't find all of this device's features on your bedside table.

Editor's recommendations



29 Aug
Blog

Govee StarPal Review: Take it Anywhere Portable Smart Lamp

Govee StarPal function

Govee StarPal Smart Lamp Review: The portable light source to take with you

RRP $ 50.00

"The Govee StarPal Smart Lamp is a solid product that is tarnished by poor app design."

advantages

  • Multiple scenes and color options

  • Portable thanks to battery power

  • Cheap price

  • Radiant colors

disadvantage

  • Antiquated app design

  • Feels fragile

Smart bulbs seem like a dozen these days, but it's hard to find quality – especially at an affordable price. Smart lights are perfect for creating an ambience in a room, whether you're watching a movie with your spouse or sitting down for a gaming binge.

Philips Hue started the smart lamp boom with its Bloom Table Lamp and Go Portable Light, but both of these smart lamps are expensive at $ 70 and $ 80, respectively. The newer Philips Hue Iris table lamp alone costs $ 100. Govee offers a cheaper alternative: the Govee StarPal Smart Table Lamp, which starts at just $ 50. It packs all the functions you would expect from an intelligent lamp into one attractive package.

Features and functions

I tested two different models of the Govee table lamp – the H6055 and H6058. The main difference between the two is that one is bluetooth only while the other is bluetooth and Wi-Fi compatible. The H6058, known as the StarPal Pro lamp, is the focus of this test because of its Wi-Fi compatibility.

A special feature that immediately stood out is that these lamps are battery operated. You can plug them in and use them all the time (and I would recommend that), but if you want to charge them and take them with you on the go, you can get around six hours of full brightness from the 3350mAh battery with the lights on. At 4.9 feet, the power cord is long enough so that you don't have to spend a long time looking for an outlet for your lamp.

Govee StarPal Smart lamp with pink light.

The lamps can display around 16 million different colors and change from warm white to cool white over the course of the day. The color temperatures range from 2,200 K to 6,500 K. These can be exchanged as desired via the app or voice control.

The Wi-Fi lamp (but not the Bluetooth lamp) works with Alexa and Google. There are also IFTTT Govee applets that allow you to further control your lights, although the applets control the Govee Home app – not individual lights.

If you ever feel like having an impromptu dance party, you can sync the lights with music. They blink and change color to the beat, and you have full control over how suddenly the change happens thanks to a multitude of different options in the app. You can choose the sound source, from the built-in music to your phone's microphone.

Of course, the lights are also equipped with the standard smart features: scheduling, sleep / wake cycles and more.

Setup and installation

The Govee StarPal Smart Lamp has two small feet that make it easy to set up on any flat surface. Once you've done that, a physical button on the back is all it takes to turn the light on for the first time. You also have to press the button once while syncing the light with the app.

The Govee Home app guides you through the setup process. It's not difficult, but it has a particular curiosity: you have to manually enter your WiFi network name and password instead of selecting your network from a list. Unless you have renamed your network to something simple, I suggest doing it beforehand.

Other than that one step, the setup process was pretty straightforward. Alexa recognized the new devices immediately and I was able to add them to the Living Room Group without any problems.

Software and performance

As functional as these lights are, the app is terrible. Almost every time I open the app, it first shows that the lights have been disconnected and makes me wait several seconds for it to see them again.

The lights can be turned on and off from the home section of the app, but this process takes two to three seconds. A little buffer wheel even appears in the app while it's working. I expect a little lag between my phone and smart devices, especially those that work over bluetooth, but the time the Govee app takes just feels too much. It's a lot easier to control the lights (and get feedback faster) through the Alexa app.

Aside from the weird delay in controlling the lights, the app shows a lot of information at a glance. It shows how the lights are connected (whether via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or both), the charge of each lamp, and whether it is currently on or off.

Selecting one of the lights opens up further options. You can customize timers, change the color of the light, adjust its brightness and change the mode. There are four different modes: Music, Color, Scene and Home Improvement. These modes are used to manipulate the effects on the lamp. There are more than 32 preset scenes to choose from, some of which are pretty impressive. Others fell a little flat, with slow transition effects or harrowing color combinations that didn't look good together.

The app presents you with an emotional color wheel in which each emotion is displayed next to its corresponding color. If you are trying to create a certain mood in the room, this unique feature can be helpful. I have certainly not seen that with other products.

Strangely enough, the Govee StarPal Pro reacted faster to commands when manipulating individual lights than when switching them on or off from the start page. The app lets you group devices for instant control of the smarts area of ​​the app, but it's not at all intuitive.

The Govee app has a lot of interesting features, but also a lot of problems. The app itself needs to be refined and the controls made more intuitive. I was able to find out how much of it worked, but I would worry that someone who wasn't using smart home devices for a living might bump into a wall.

On the performance side of things, the StarPal Pro is best reserved as an accent light as I wouldn't necessarily say it has the strongest light for reading. That said, with so many color options and scenes, I love using it as an accent light to complement other main sources of light in a room. Cheaper smart lights tend to be weak in terms of color production, but I'm happy to report that they produce rich, vibrant colors that help set the mood.

Our opinion

The Govee StarPal Pro is a budget-friendly lamp that works great – provided you're not using the Govee Home app. After you've set up the lights, use Alexa or Google Home to control the lights and you'll be a lot happier. Apart from control problems, the StarPal Pro is a good-looking lamp that creates atmosphere and atmosphere in your home.

The lamp is a solid device that suffers from poor app design. The good news is that most of the issues I've had with the lamp will go away when Govee updates the app to make it more user-friendly. Just make sure you are looking for the Wi-Fi compatible model and not the bluetooth-only model. Let's face it: nobody wants a smart device that cannot be controlled remotely.

Are there alternatives?

The Philips Hue Bloom costs $ 70 but has the Philips reputation and performance behind it. On the less expensive end of the spectrum, consider the Amazon Echo Glow. Sure, it's intended for kids, but it can create the same environmental effects and work as a wake-up light in the morning, all for just $ 30.

How long it will take?

The Govee StarPal Smart lamp is made of plastic. It's incredibly light and feels a little fragile. I got the impression that with proper care it would last a very long time (and with LEDs it's not likely that the lamps will burn out that quickly) but don't expect it to survive a fall off the shelf. There is a one year limited warranty that covers defects.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. Despite my complaints about the app, the lights themselves look great. The control that each light offers is impressive, and the $ 50 price tag makes these lamps much more affordable than other options on the market.

Editor's recommendations



18 Aug
Blog

Govee Lyra Smart Floor Lamp Review: A Futuristic Light Show

govee lyra smart floor lamp Rating 3 of 11

Govee Lyra Smart Floor Lamp Review: A fascinating, futuristic light show

RRP $ 150.00

"If there is a bare corner in your home, the Govee Lyra Smart Floor Lamp will illuminate it with light."

advantages

  • Tons of preset light modes to choose from

  • Strong brightness

  • Vibrant colours

Govee is a brand I've talked about a lot over the past few months, in part because their smart lights are affordable compared to alternatives from established brands like Philips Hue and Lifx. Conventional lightbulbs and light strips are widely used in the smart lighting field, saturating the market with products that have very similar purposes and functions – so Govee decides to expand their portfolio with their next device.

At first glance, the Govee Lyra Smart floor lamp with its round base and narrow protruding column looks like something out of a futuristic science fiction film. But once it turns on, there is something intriguing that catches your attention. It's certainly fascinating, but the $ 150 price tag makes it the most expensive model in its ever-expanding range of smart lighting.

Setup and installation

Building the Govee Lyra Smart Floor Lamp is a fairly simple process that consists of four components: a base, a narrow tube, a strip of light and a power connector. The narrow tube is fastened together and then connected to the base, which allows it to have a clearance of 57 inches when fully assembled.

Govee has taken the best features of a smart light strip and transplanted them into a potent floor lamp.

The hardest part of the whole setup is to snake the flexible strip of light along the thin cutout along the tube. It reminds me of your ordinary strip of light that you can hang on a wall or around furniture, but it's encased in a sturdy and flexible rubber-like housing that fits into the narrow channel of the tubes. From start to finish, the entire process takes a maximum of 15 minutes.

design

As I said before, the Govee Lyra Smart Floor Lamp looks very different – so much so that it may not blend well with traditional decor. If you are looking for the minimalist look, you can surely appreciate what Govee is up to here. Compared to the Wyze floor lamp I tested, which looks very much what I expect from a floor lamp, Govee's interpretation is undeniably as minimalistic as it gets.

Two people sing next to Govee Lyra Lamp.

This is not a bad quality in and of itself, especially if it doesn't take up a lot of floor space. I ended up putting it in a corner of my office so the light could bounce off the wall more effectively. And sure, you can position it so that the streak of light is facing away from the wall, but I did the opposite because the intensity of the light can be harsh on the eyes due to its high brightness.

features

Light shows are expected with these types of smart lights, but Govee goes a step further when compared to some other table or floor lamps. Although I really enjoy the ambience that table lamps like the Philips Hue Iris have, they cannot produce different colors at the same time. That is the special thing about the Govee Lyra, because as a light band it can produce many different colors at the same time. This is achieved thanks to Govee's RGBIC (red, green, blue independent control) technology.

A selection of dazzling light patterns is available via the Govee Home app, which is available for Android and iOS. What makes it better is that the light patterns are dynamic rather than just emitting one color – which is fine if you prefer a more static setting, but I enjoy the pattern changes that the Lyra offers. From breathing effects to mimicking the look of candlelight, it's nice to know that there is a pattern to choose from for every mood.

Its versatility underscores the lyra's ability to customize patterns. The app has options for choosing colors and which areas of the lightstrip to turn on so you can customize a light show. There is a mode that allows the lyre to light up when the microphone detects music or sounds. If you want to throw a dance party, the lyre glows beautifully to the beat of the music.

Use the Govee Home app for Android to turn on Govee Lyra.

Finally, it's compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. I managed to set it up with the latter so that I can turn it on and off instantly with voice actions.

perfomance

When it comes to being a main source of light, the brightness of the Govee Lyra easily makes it a perfect reading lamp. It also works well as an accent or ambient light with my particular setup as the light coming from the strip is harsh when looking at it directly.

Govee Lyra Smart floor lamp lighting corner.

Meanwhile, the colors it can produce are saturated in tone – especially when different colors are emitted at the same time. The colors clashing along the wall have something fascinating to say – they make for an impressive light show. Seeing its color explosion through a picture is one thing, but seeing it in action in person or on video is another thing.

Our opinion

The $ 150 cost of the Govee Lyra Smart Floor Lamp is without question the biggest hurdle for most people. It's still expensive, but it's justified when you look at what the competition has to offer.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes and no. There aren't many smart floor lamps out there that offer this level of customization, especially for their price. The only other alternative worth checking out is the Philips Hue Signe, which stands out for its ability to work as ambient light with your home theater experience, but you'll want to pay $ 250 for it.

If you're looking for a smart floor lamp with more emphasis on being a primary light source, you can't beat the Wyze floor lamp. Although it only emits white light, you'll want to pay less than $ 50 for it.

How long it will take?

Fortunately, the base is weighted down enough to prevent the lyre from tipping over, but the thin metal column could be damaged if it accidentally falls over. Otherwise, you can count on long-term use of this lamp as it is based on LED technology. Govee offers a one-year limited warranty that covers defects.

Should you buy it?

Yes. It is a floor lamp that emits strong light and is perfect as a primary light source. And its colored light show will dazzle your eyes.

Editor's recommendations



07 Aug
Blog

Level Lock Review: A Continuation of Smart Meeting Beauty

Level Lock (2021) inside the key housing on the door.

Level Lock Review: A sequel to Smart meets stylish

RRP $ 249.00

“Your neighbors won't know. The Level Lock looks something like a standard lock. "

advantages

  • Gorgeous aesthetics

  • easy installation

  • Cheaper in levels lineup

disadvantage

  • Geofencing settings cannot be adjusted

I just don't like Level's smart locks, I absolutely love them. Why do you ask this? Well, that's mainly because they don't follow the traditional smart-lock design, which tends to have huge cases over the latch and an obvious keyboard on the outside. Quite simply, the intelligent locks from Level look like conventional locks. It would be difficult for you to even tell the difference.

The Level Lock is the company's latest offering that follows the same principles as its siblings. Some people might be confused by the differences within the current offerings, but the Level Lock is in the middle of the lineup at $ 249 – complimenting the hotel key-like Level Lock Touch Edition for $ 329 and the original Level Bolt for the Price of $ 199. Of course, having tested the previous locks, I have high expectations for the latest level lock.

installation

After installing two previous level smartlocks this was a breeze and it took me no more than seven minutes to install. The Level Lock consists of three main components: striking plate, motor and lock cylinder housing. It's a pretty straightforward process, and for the average person, it shouldn't take more than 15 minutes to install from start to finish.

Box with contents of Level Lock (2021).

Unlike Level Bolt's original smart lock, which essentially turned your existing lock into a smart one, the Level Lock is an all-in-one complete solution that replaces your existing bolt. This means that you will need to carry a new set of physical keys with you, unlike the one you have been using before. This is basically the biggest differentiator between the two smart locks. Conversely, the Level Lock Touch Edition is similar to the Level Lock, but adds NFC-based key cards as an alternative form of unlocking.

design

As always, Level does a wonderful job with their designs and this latest one doesn't change the recipe. Level claims it's the smallest Smart Lock ever, but honestly, it's not that different from the Touch Edition.

From the outside, I still love that it looks like a normal lock that you can find on every door. It doesn't attract the same amount of attention as other smart locks with fancy fingerprint sensors or bulky outdoor keyboards, which is a way to deter potential hackers.

Level Lock (2021) in locked position.

There really isn't anyone out there designing smart locks that keep the look and decor of your existing lock. Hence, it is difficult to find fault with a design that is elegant, beautiful and contemporary. Level offers it in four versions: satin nickel, satin chrome, polished brass and matt black, to match any decor.

software

To complete the setup, you need to connect the Level Lock to your home's Wi-Fi network using the Level app, which is available for iOS and Android. I know the app quite well as I've been using the Level Lock Touch Edition for 8 months.

I still love the fact that it looks like a regular lock that you can find on every door.

Much like the design of the lock, the app itself follows the same simple and straightforward approach. From the app's main screen, I can unlock the lock, set up passes to grant temporary access, and change some of its settings – e.g. do it myself.

perfomance

Functionally, the Level Lock works exactly like the other Smart Locks in Levels lineup. While you can access the lock using the mobile apps, I really appreciate that the Level Lock still has an automatic unlock feature when I get near the door with my phone in my pocket. It's able to do this because it sets up a geofence around my location. When exiting, you can choose how long the self-locking will take after opening.

The only persistent problem that I hope will eventually be resolved is the example of having to re-enter my apartment because I forgot something while walking out the door. Since I've set the Level Lock to automatically lock after a minute, it knows I haven't left the geofenced area – so the lock doesn't unlock automatically when I approach the door. I just wish there was a way to customize this, but it isn't there yet.

Side profile view with Level Lock (2021).

Otherwise, the Level Lock offers all the comfort you could want from a Smart Lock. It comes in handy when I come back from a store with both hands carrying groceries or packages so I don't have to hunt for keys. It just starts to unlock automatically when I'm about 10 feet away. The best part is that the mechanism is smooth and fluid – so the bolt is locked correctly every time.

Battery life

Just like Level's other Smart Locks, the Level Lock is powered by a single CR2 battery that is included. Unfortunately, the app doesn't give you a percentage, so it's impossible to measure its performance at this point. Instead, the app only indicates that it is in a "healthy" status.

CR2 battery installation for Level Lock (2021).

On its landing page, Level claims that the battery life is more than a year, but I'm a little skeptical as the Level Lock Touch edition had to be replaced after 9 months. Even so, I still think it's commendable to achieve more than six months.

Our opinion

If you want to use the fancy touch unlock features of the Level Lock Touch Edition, then the new Level Lock will meet all your needs. It's still one of the best-designed smart locks out there, accompanied by all of the smarts you'd expect from a modern smart lock – like automatic unlocking, voice control (works great with HomeKit), and temporary guest badges.

Considering this is $ 80 less than the touch-enabled version, this level lock will save you money while still delivering great features with a modern design that few can match.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes, it's still expensive, which is why affordable smart locks like the Wyze Lock are great alternatives. You pay less for similar features, but the design follows traditional smart locks.

At the other end of the spectrum, some people will appreciate the more-is-better approach. Smart locks like the Eufy Security Smart Lock Touch, Lockly Duo and Kwikset Halo Touch all have fingerprint sensors as another way to unlock them. These fingerprint sensor locks come in handy when you forget to bring your smartphone.

How long it will take?

The Level Lock feels well constructed and consists mainly of metal components. Level states that it uses a patent-pending, six-stage stainless steel gearbox to withstand almost all conditions. There is a two-year limited warranty in case of failure, which is generous as most others offer a one-year warranty.

Should you buy it?

You bet! Level has three options to choose from, but for those looking for a brand new lock to swap out everything they have now, the Level Lock is an excellent choice that doesn't have the clunky looks or controls that I get with Standard -Smart see locks. It eliminates the extra baggage by cutting off the fat.

Editor's recommendations



30 Jul
Blog

Govee Aura Smart Table Lamp Review: Animations That Dazzle

The Govee lamp has RGB lights to light up the night.

Govee Aura Smart Table Lamp Review: Animated light show on your desk

RRP $ 60.00

"The Govee Aura table lamp is a smart lamp that uses RGB colors to illuminate its 360-degree surface."

advantages

  • Nice RGB lights

  • Well organized app

  • Lots of presets for different colors and palettes

  • Manual control on the device

disadvantage

  • Cheap plastic construction

  • App restrictions

Smart lighting is one of the easiest smart home technologies that you can incorporate into your home. It's simple, rarely requires anything special, and gives your home a flair that no other smart home category can. Sure, you can get your oven to talk to your phone, and that's a nice trick for showing off at parties. But lighting has a certain subtle charm that cannot be quantified.

So far, most of the smart home lighting I have in my home has come from Philips, and my attempts to expand outside the Philips area have been disastrous. So I was skeptical when Govee offered me the opportunity to try out his table lamp. My skepticism came from two sources. First of all, they're a lighting company that isn't Philips, and besides, I don't use table lamps very much in my house. My house has pretty much all of the lighting fixtures in the ceiling. Still, I wanted to try. So let's dive in.

Design: inconspicuous hardware

Right out of the box, the Govee Aura Smart Table Lamp is a pretty cheap plastic lamp with five buttons on top and branding that is hard to miss on the front underside of the lamp. There is a small brick on the power cord that spoils the overall look of the lamp. It's a tiny brick – so small that it actually feels a bit unnecessary, so overall this wasn't a promising start.

The Govee Aura lamp has RGB lights to brighten up the night.Govee

The lamp is a cylinder that is about 8 inches tall and about 10 inches tall. When lit, only about half an inch at the bottom and a quarter of an inch at the top serve as a kind of aperture. The lamp is bright and can reach 350 lumens and has a temperature range of 2200 – 6500K. Inside is also what Govee calls RGBICWW lighting, which is a fancy way of saying animated, multi-colored lights. One of the nice things about the hardware is that the shell is translucent enough to convey colors clearly, but doesn't reveal the mechanisms inside that would dispel the illusion.

Personally, I prefer buttons on the top just because touch-sensitive panels tend to be either too sensitive or not sensitive enough. A common thread running through most smart lighting lamps is that they typically come in a variety of form factors. It is difficult to say whether this is “better or worse” than the smart table lamp “Tree of Light” from CET; It all depends on your personal preference for your facility.

Software: animations galore

The Govee Aura Smart Table Lamp is mainly controlled via the Govee app which allows you to use different effects and lighting patterns. You can move the lights to music or just show a specific pattern. You can even set up a custom pattern based on your color tastes. Govee also has a couple of dozen animated patterns that swirl the colors inside the lamp, some of which create a pretty cool effect while others move at a slightly jerky pace, giving the illusion of fish swimming in a tank quickly scattered.

Nevertheless, I particularly liked the animations in the lamp. You can choose one of several animations and watch a sunrise, drag clouds in the sky, or see the above fish swimming in a bowl. There were many choices and I found them very enjoyable. Govee got really creative here, which is great because when it comes to things like that, I'm one of the least creative people I know.

Whether for your living room or the children's room, the app offers a design that you will like.

Govee's software even lets you configure custom color swatches and help you by suggesting national flags, stars, seasons, and even the colors of the earth or any of the other planets in the solar system. Govee has put a lot of thought into this software, but in some places it just falls short. For example, yes, Govee suggests the colors of the earth, but you can only pick one at a time. I would like to cycle through all the colors of Mars; that would look really cool.

Additionally, the Govee lamp can be connected to Alexa or Google Assistant, although this is the least useful part of the lamp in my opinion. In all honesty, the Google Assistant rarely understood that I was talking about the lamp, even though I tried different name formats. I've tried "Govee Lamp", "Aura Lamp", "The Desk Lamp", and a few others that I can't print because this is a family friendly site. Needless to say, this part was a little frustrating. I can't tell if the problem was with the Google Assistant or Govee's software. I would often say “turn on the Govee lamp” and watch the Google Assistant transcribe “turn on the Gobi lamp”. Whatever the case, there is work to be done here.

Performance: Strong colors that attract attention

Govee wants you to enjoy your RGB lamp in a variety of ways. You can customize it yourself or let the Govee software team do things for you. You can set the lamp on a timer and let it wake you up. When you don't feel like whipping out your phone and opening the app, you can tap the buttons at the top to turn the lamp on or off, adjust the brightness, and even switch to music mode. In short, I wasn't a fan of table lamps before. Now I'm looking for places in my house where I could put another one.

The Govee Aura lamp can light up in many different configurations.Adam Doud / Digital Trends

With its dazzling effect, the Govee Aura Smart Table Lamp can potentially be the center of attention anywhere. At the same time, its vivid colors and animations create an atmosphere that other static lights lack.

Our opinion

This is not a perfect product. The build quality is questionable and probably wouldn't survive a fall from the table to a wooden floor. The lump on the power cord is repulsive. The branding that is in the front and center of the lamp is honestly cheesy. But overall, I like what Govee is doing here, and that's mostly because of the software. Yes, there are a few shortcomings as well, but I imagine these are pretty easy to fix.

Is there a better alternative?

We've got a roundup of the best smart lights you can buy today. there is no lack of them. The next would probably be that Aukey Touch RGB lampwhich looks very similar to this lamp but has a touch sensitive base as opposed to buttons on the top.

The Philips Hue Iris costs a lot more, but it is a different type of table lamp that naturally fits in well with the Philips Hue ecosystem. Additionally, you can direct the light onto walls or wall art for some neat accent lighting.

How long it will take?

The build quality of this lamp is not the best. It's pretty much top-down plastic that has some shock-resistant properties to be sure. Even so, I would be nervous if I put this too close to the edge of a table, especially over a hardwood or tile floor. The lamp has a one-year limited warranty from the date of purchase, which is nice, but there's no telling how long this would last.

Should you buy it?

Yes. This is a beautiful product that can be great fun. Whether for your living room or the children's room, the app offers a design that you will like. In fact, there are likely several designs out there that you will like. At $ 55 (as of this writing), this isn't the cheapest smart table lamp out there, but the app development really shows off at Govee. It also turns out that smart table lamps are fun! Who knew I really love this lamp and will definitely start with Govee when shopping for smart lighting in the future.

Editor's recommendations



05 Jul
Blog

Lockly Duo Smart Lock Review: Steep Price for Convenience

Lockly Duo Smart Lock

Duo ™ Smart Lock

RRP $ 450.00

"The Lockly Duo replaces both your door lock and your deadbolt, but the price is just too high."

advantages

  • Replaces both locks on your door

  • Open and lock both locks with one handle

  • Precise fingerprint sensor

  • Random number pad for security

disadvantage

  • Some design problems

  • App is just ok

One of the biggest problems I've encountered with smart home door locks is that they tend to replace the deadbolt or latch. The Lockly Duo replaces both. I have mixed feelings about this lock setup, but I think those mixed feelings come from dealing with the unknown rather than from Lockly's mistakes. I know that it was nice that both locks were intelligent and accessible by fingerprint, key or code for a change.

Lockly behaves in an unusual way. Both the door lock and the deadbolt are controlled by a single door handle. A push-down unlocks both locks, a pull-up locks both locks. It definitely takes getting used to, and despite its strangeness, I like this mechanism. It's just easier to have a single handle that releases both locks, even if it's unusual.

Installation and setup

Setting up the lock required a bit of work and some complex mechanisms. The lock is designed to cover a latch and door handle that are either 4 "or 5½" apart. My door is 5 ½ inches so it worked. Or at least if my latch handle had been drilled to the right size. To attach the cover plate to my door, I had to sand about a quarter of the door. It's not Lockly's fault. The cover plate itself is also significantly larger than the door lock on the outside, so it doesn't look that great.

With the Lockly Duo, there is a clear gap between the locking mechanism and the door handle.

On the inside there is an additional mechanism that mounts between the door lock and the door called the connecting plate. This plate connects the bolt and the door lock with the single handle. It's not a bad device, but it does add a complexity to the lock that I wasn't expecting. In addition, the connecting plate is not flush with the door handle. It's not particularly noticeable, but if I hold a flashlight to the end of the lock, I can see the light on the other side.

There is no shortage of smart locks on the market, but none of them control both the trap and the bolt.

The Lockly Duo also has an integrated wired door sensor for the Lockly security system. I didn't install this as I already have a Vivint security system installed. But the fact that it's wired to the door handle and I couldn't remove it was a bit annoying.

properties

Once installed, use the Lockly app to set up PINs and fingerprints for users. The fingerprint sensor is located on the side of the door lock and a screen above the door lock shows the buttons for the codes. Most of the time the screen is turned off. A single tap usually turns it on, although occasionally I had to tap it a second time to wake it up. The numbers displayed are randomized into four buttons with three digits per button. This ensures that repeated tapping of the same point for the same codes does not develop a wear pattern. After entering your code, you can press some sort of "Enter" key below the keys, but there is no indication that the key is an Enter key. At first glance it looks like a fingerprint, so I initially confused it with the statement: "Sure, you can enter a code, but don't forget the fingerprint sensor." The button needs a better design, or it just has to "Enter" say.

The Lockly Duo uses a fingerprint sensor or a code to allow access.

The fingerprint sensor works very well, although I'm not convinced the placement is the best. When you have a door handle on the left side of the door, your natural instinct is to reach for the door with your left hand. But when you do, your fingers are pointing away from the sensor. The fingerprint sensor is a bit too cumbersome to use a thumbprint, so you end up reaching across your body to scan a finger on your right hand and then actually using your left hand to open the door.

software

The app also lets you lock and unlock the door, and is supposed to be able to pair it with the Google Assistant, but I couldn't get this to work. The app itself is pretty simple and easy to understand. You use it to set fingerprints and PIN codes. Setting up fingerprints works similarly to setting up a fingerprint on your phone. You press your finger on the sensor several times until the app tells you that you're done.

The app also allows you to activate "Welcome Mode" and this is one of my other main problems with the lock. Welcome mode means your door will stay unlocked on a schedule. That's nice, but in the summer when people come in and out all day it would be nice if there was a button or button that you can use to unlock the door. The only way to toggle the welcome mode on or off is currently through the app. That is not optimal.

Our opinion

Overall, this is a decent device with some oddities (and a price tag) to get used to. It's a great concept to be sure of. Using one door handle is much easier than locking and unlocking two locks individually. You still get the security of a dead bolt along with the convenience of a single door handle. There are some quirks here, like the inability to leave the door unlocked without using your phone and the oversized mounting plates for the lock. The handle also sticks out quite a bit which actually bothered my screen door. Many of these are minor issues that can certainly be fixed in a 2.0 product.

But at $ 450, you really don't want any compromises from a door lock. That's way more than double the average smart door lock on the market. That's a high price to pay for a little comfort. I usually leave my door lock unlocked because only my bolt was smart up to the Lockly. Having a door lock that works for both the deadbolt and the deadbolt is great, but I'm not convinced that $ 450 is great.

Is there a better alternative?

The Lockly's fingerprint reader and code field both work great. There's no shortage of smart locks on the market – check out our list of the most popular smart locks – but none of them control both the trap and the bolt. Is that the best in the world? It is certainly convenient. There were times when I would lock myself out of the house when I forgot to unlock the doorknob. With this lock, that's never a problem.

For roughly the same price, the ultimate Smart Lock is available in the Lockly Vision. It is the Swiss Army Knife among intelligent locks because it offers all modern conveniences, but also serves as a video doorbell. If you prefer something a little more discreet, the Level Touch looks like an ordinary deadbolt lock on any door and doesn't have the distracting keypads and bulky bolts normally associated with smart locks. And finally there is the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock, which is characterized by its moderate price, easy installation and incredible security features.

How long it will take?

I have no reason to believe this door lock won't hold. It is built from durable materials. The locks are backed by a five-year guarantee on mechanics and workmanship and a two-year electrical guarantee. The gap between the lock plate and the door handle makes me pause, but it's inside so it should be affected by rain. In general, I have no complaints about the durability.

Should you buy it?

No. There are certain reasons why you wouldn't want this lock from a functional standpoint. If your door has no awning or other weather protection, you will find that the fingerprint sensor and the code board are very sensitive to rain and practically no longer work. If you don't like the aesthetics of the door handles and prefer doorknobs, you should insist.

But the main concern I have is the pricing which is very high. Put simply, you can buy a smart door lock and bolt and still have money for a few battery packs before you hit that price threshold. Lockly needs to bring the price down before it is considered a solid buy.

Editor's recommendations



1234